Executive Summary:
This document presents the Ministry of Jal Shakti's response to a parliamentary question regarding the water crisis in the Bundelkhand region, answered on July 24, 2025. It details the government's awareness of the crisis, the schemes implemented over the past five years, and future action plans to ensure water abundance. The response includes groundwater resource assessments and outlines various central government initiatives supplementing state efforts.
Key Points / Main Content:
Groundwater Assessment:
* The Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) and State Nodal Groundwater Departments assess groundwater resources annually since 2022.
* The Ground Water Resource Assessment 2024 assessed all 14 districts of the Bundelkhand region.
* Ten districts are categorized as "Safe," three as "Critical," and one as "Semi-Critical."
* Annexure I provides a summary of the Ground Water Resources Assessment GWRA2024 for the districts of Bundelkhand region.
Government Initiatives:
* The Central Government provides technical and financial assistance to State Governments through various schemes and programmes for water augmentation, conservation, and efficient management.
* Interlinking of Rivers (ILR): The Ken Betwa Link Project (KBLP) is the first ILR project under the National Perspective Plan and aims to transfer water from surplus to deficit basins to address the water crisis.
* Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY): Launched in 2015-16 to enhance water access on farms, expand cultivable areas under irrigation, improve water use efficiency, and promote sustainable water conservation. Four projects under PMKSY-AIBP benefit the Bundelkhand region.
* Atal Bhujal Yojana: Implemented to arrest the decline in groundwater levels through community-led participatory approaches for sustainable groundwater management.
* Jal Shakti Abhiyan (JSA): A mission mode approach to improve water availability, including groundwater conditions, in water-stressed blocks, including Bundelkhand.
* Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain (JSA: CTR): An annual initiative, with the sixth edition launched on March 22, 2025, under the theme "Jal Sanchay, Jan Bhagidari: Jan Jagrukta Ki Or."
* National Aquifer Mapping (NAQUIM) Project: Completed by CGWB in all districts of Bundelkhand, with aquifer maps and management plans shared with state agencies.
* Jal Jeevan Mission: Provides financial and technical assistance to states to provide functional household tap connections to all rural households.
* Master Plan for Artificial Recharge to Groundwater 2020: Prepared by CGWB in consultation with States/UTs, indicating structures for different terrain conditions, including Bundelkhand.
Impact Analysis:
State Governments:
* Impact: Expected to primarily undertake steps for augmentation, conservation, and efficient management of water resources. They receive central assistance to supplement their efforts.
* Action Required: Implement and manage water resource projects, utilize technical and financial assistance from the central government, and collaborate with CGWB on aquifer management plans.
Residents of Bundelkhand Region:
* Impact: Aims to improve water availability, reduce water stress, and enhance agricultural productivity through various schemes and projects.
* Action Required: Participate in community-led initiatives such as Atal Bhujal Yojana and adopt water conservation practices.
Central Ground Water Board (CGWB):
* Impact: Responsible for assessing groundwater resources, creating aquifer maps, and providing technical expertise.
* Action Required: Continue monitoring groundwater levels, updating aquifer maps, and collaborating with state governments to implement water management plans.
Key Entities Referenced
Bundelkhand Region: A geographical region in India, known for water scarcity, spanning parts of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.
Ministry of Jal Shakti: A ministry in the Government of India responsible for water resources, river development, and Ganga rejuvenation.
Central Ground Water Board (CGWB): An organization responsible for the assessment of ground water resources in India.
Ken Betwa Link Project (KBLP): A river interlinking project aimed at transferring water from the Ken River to the Betwa River to address water scarcity in the Bundelkhand region.
Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY): A government scheme launched in 2015-16 to enhance physical access to water on farms and improve water use efficiency.
Atal Bhujal Yojana: A scheme implemented in various districts of Bundelkhand region with an aim to arrest decline in ground water level through a participatory approach led by community for sustainable groundwater management.
Jal Shakti Abhiyan (JSA): A mission mode approach intended to improve water availability including ground water conditions in the all water stressed blocks of India including Bundelkhand region.
Uttar Pradesh: A state in northern India, part of which falls within the Bundelkhand region.
Madhya Pradesh: A state in central India, part of which falls within the Bundelkhand region.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI
DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT & GANGA REJUVENATION
LOK SABHA
STARRED QUESTION NO. *74
ANSWERED ON 24.07.2025
WATER CRISIS IN BUNDELKHAND REGION
†*74. SHRI NARAYANDAS AHIRWAR
Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government is aware of the ever-increasing water crisis in the Bundelkhand region and if
so, the details thereof;
(b) the details of the schemes implemented during the last five years to address this crisis;
(c) whether the Government has implemented schemes related to rainwater harvesting, river rejuvenation,
revival of traditional water bodies or catchment area development in the region and if so, the details
thereof; and
(d) the concrete action plan of the Government to ensure water abundance in the said region in future?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF JAL SHAKTI
(SHRI C R PAATIL)
(a) to (d) : A statement is laid on the Table of the House.
1STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (d) OF STARRED QUESTION NO.
*74 TO BE ANSWERED ON 24.07.2025 IN LOK SABHA REGARDING “WATER CRISIS IN
BUNDELKHAND REGION”
(a) The average annual water availability of any region or country is largely dependent upon hydro-
meteorological and geological factors. Due to high temporal and spatial variation of precipitation in a
region, the water availability may result in water stress conditions.
The Dynamic Ground Water Resources of the country are being assessed every year since 2022
jointly by the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) and State/Nodal/Groundwater Department
periodically. As per report of Ground Water Resource Assessment 2024, all the fourteen (14) districts of
Bundelkhand region have been assessed. Out of fourteen (14), ten (10) districts have been assessed to be
Safe, three (03) districts to be Critical and one (01) district to Semi-Critical. The summary of Ground
water Resources Assessment (GWRA-2024) for the districts of Bundelkhand region have been presented
in Annexure-I.
(b) to (d) ‘Water’ being a state subject, steps for augmentation, conservation and efficient management of
water resources are primarily undertaken by the respective State Governments. In order to supplement the
efforts of the State Governments, Central Government provides technical and financial assistance to them
through various schemes and programmes.
The Government of India has taken various initiatives/steps for water conservation, sustainable
groundwater management, improving the groundwater level and addressing the water shortages in
Bundelkhand Region:
Interlinking of Rivers (ILR) – ILR is a project for transfer of water from surplus basin to water
deficit basin. Ken Betwa Link Project (KBLP) is the first ILR project under the National
Perspective Plan that has been taken up for implementation. This project will significantly
address the water crisis of Bundelkhand region.
Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) was launched during the year 2015-16,
with an aim to enhance physical access of water on farm and expand cultivable area under
assured irrigation, improve on-farm water use efficiency, introduce sustainable water
conservation practices, etc. Under PMKSY-AIBP, there are 4 projects (one in Uttar Pradesh and
three in Madhya Pradesh) which are benefiting the Bundelkhand Region of India.
Government of India is implementing Atal Bhujal Yojana in various districts of Bundelkhand
region with an aim to arrest decline in ground water level through a participatory approach led by
community for sustainable groundwater management.
2 Government of India launched Jal Shakti Abhiyan (JSA), in a mission mode approach intended
to improve water availability including ground water conditions in the all water stressed blocks
of India including Bundelkhand region. To build on this momentum, the National Water Mission
introduced the Catch the Rain (CTR) campaign in 2020, which was subsequently integrated into
Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain (JSA: CTR) in 2021. Now an annual initiative, the sixth
edition of JSA: CTR was launched on 22nd March 2025 with the theme “Jal Sanchay, Jan
Bhagidari: Jan Jagrukta Ki Or.”
Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) has completed the National Aquifer Mapping
(NAQUIM) Project in all the districts of Bundelkhand region. The Aquifer maps and
management plans have been prepared and shared with the respective State agencies. The block
wise management plans include various water conservation measures through recharge
structures.
Under Jal Jeevan Mission, Government of India assists States by providing financial and
technical assistance to provide functional household tap connection to all rural households.
CGWB has prepared a Master Plan for Artificial Recharge to Groundwater - 2020 in
consultation with States / UTs which is a macro level plan indicating various structures for the
different terrain conditions of the country including Bundelkhand region.
***
3ANNEXURE-I
ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a) OF LOK SABHA STARRED
QUESTION NO. *74 TO BE ANSWERED ON 24.07.2025 REGARDING “WATER CRISIS
IN BUNDELKHAND REGION”
Groundwater Resource Assessment for the districts of Bundelkhand region as per CGWB 2024
Annual Net
Total Annual Annual GW Ground Stage of
Annual Extractable Groundw Allocation Water Ground
S. No. State District Ground Ground ater for Availab Water Category
Water Water Extractio DomesticUsility for Extraction
Recharge Resource n e as on future (%)
2025 use
Chhatarpu
1 88202.86 83792.73 53773.06 3324.12 29851.6 64.17
r Safe
2 Damoh 39610.05 37629.53 21983.32 2735.18 15276.5 58.42 Safe
29929.7
3 49572.42 47093.81 17065.49 1894.54 36.24
Datia 4 Safe
4 Madhya Niwari 20177.35 19168.47 12888.07 1339.31 6102.63 67.24 Safe
Pradesh
32900.1
5 54691.37 51956.8 18936.85 2635.57 36.45
Panna 3 Safe
42117.7
6 109286.49 103451.02 61105.44 4089.76 59.07
Sagar 3 Safe
Tikamgar
7 40862.48 38819.36 30396.84 3746.52 7839.53 78.3
h SC
22233.2
8 73301.12 66450.21 43989.34 4256.96 66.2
Banda 2 Safe
9 Chitrakoot 43872.74 40047.16 33169.49 2834.09 6675.13 82.83 SC
13454.1
10 45654.6 41346.26 27837.36 2268.15 67.33
Hamirpur 4 Safe
Uttar
41365.9
11 Pradesh 103736.71 93767.55 52259.64 4509.25 55.73
Jalaun 4 Safe
23090.0
12 74157.88 67359 44072.24 3439.34 65.43
Jhansi 4 Safe
13 Lalitpur 39658.76 36339.3 30579.47 3775.9 5506.42 84.15 SC
14 Mahoba 30635.76 27843.33 25578.91 1212.54 3218.42 91.87 Critical
*****
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